Keyboard apparatus for telegraphs and the like



Aug. 14, "1934. R. A. LAKE El AL KEYBOARD APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Fil ed Dec. 24. 19

31 2 Sheets-Sheet l llI1IllIIIIIINN-llfllllllllllllllll IIIIlIlIlIllIIIHIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTORS 11 055 A. Lab/e Her e06. /QMMZ4 ATTORNEY8.

Aug. 14, 1934.

R. A. LAKE ET AL KEYBOARD APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Filed Deg. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R055 A L we ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED srAggs PATENT OFFICE KEYBOARD APPARATUS FOR TELEGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Ross A. Lake, Chicago, Cicero, I1l., assignors and Herman W. Stoelk, to Teletype Corporation,

25 Claims.

The present invention relates to permutation keyboard apparatus such as used in printing telegraph systems for transmitting signals or perforating tape in accordance with a code comprising permutations of a definite number of two different conditions.

One of the objects of the invention is to improve the key action of the keyboard apparatus set forth in U. S. Letters patent of Howard L. Krum, No. 1,884,753, dated October 25, 1932, application filed September 20, 1929, Serial No. 394,067. Further objects are to provide an improved counter for the keyboard together with means for restoring the counter to zero under control of the carriage return key, and a cutout for the counter controlled by the keys corresponding to the so called "function signals, such as shift, unshift", line feed, etc., and also to provide for rapidly forming successive or repeated space signals.

With these and other ends in view, the invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which illustrate the improved keyboard apparatus as applied to a tape perforator:-

Fig. l is a partial plan view.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines 22 and 33 respectively of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of portions of the code bars in different positions.

Fig. '7 is a detail section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 9 is a detail view of portions of two special key-operated bars.

Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating the controlling circuits for the main operating magnet and the counter.

The tape perforating means controlled by the keyboard, as set forth in the above noted patent, comprises a" set of punches 10 movable through guide plates 11 and 12 and coacting with a die plate 13 to perforate the tape 14, the punches being selectively operated by a hammer or actuator 15 and a set of permutation elements 16, one for each punch. The actuator or hammer is pivoted at 1'7 and forms the armature lever -of an operating magnet 18. The permutation elements or selectors 16 are moved back and forth and are positioned in different combinations by the controlling keys with their outer ends either in or out of their operative positions below the corresponding punches, and, at each setting, the actuator 15 is oscillated by the magnet to operate the selected punches and form a row of perforations in the tape corresponding to the setting of the permutation elements. When the magnet is deenergized, the punches are restored by a stripper'plate 19 and the actuating lever 15 by its spring 20. Also, the tape is then advanced by a pawl 21, pivoted on the lever and coacting with a ratchet'22, and a pin. toothed wheel 23 that engages feed holes formed in the tape by a punch 24.

The selecting fingers 16 are supported on the pivoted actuating lever 15 and, in the present construction, the fingers are provided at their ends with depending lugs 25 having rounded lower ends which engage and slide upon a portion of the upper face of the actuating lever. This portion of the upper face of the actuating lever 15. as clearly shown in Fig. 2, is radially disposed with respect to the axis of the pivot 1'7 of the lever and is in horizontal alignment with the pivot axis, so that the rocking movement of the lever effects the'straight line thrust of the ends of the fingers and does not tend to move them laterally or cramp the key-operated means by which the selecting elements or fingers are positioned.

As in the prior construction, key levers 26 pivoted on a rod 2'7 and normally upheld by springs 28 are provided with keys 29 and extend over a number of pairs of code bars a and b, one pair being provided for each permutation element or selecting finger 16. The bars of each pair are supported by a pair of T-shaped rock arms 30 mounted on pivot rods 31 and having oppositely offset lugs 32 and 33 which uphold the code bars a and b respectively of the corresponding pair. The rock arms of each pair are pivoted to and reciprocate a permutation bar 34, and these bars are connect ed by levers 35 to correspondingly reciprocate the selecting fingers 16. Each key lever 26 asarranged depresses one of the code bars of each pair and, through the medium of the rock arms, lifts the other code bars to either advance or retract the corresponding permutation bars and selecting fingers and position the same in a characteristic combination. For this purpose, the code bars are provided with notched upper edges and the bars of each pair are complements, that is, the high portions of one bar are opposite the lower portions of the other bar of the same pair. I

It is noted that the code and permutation bars have no normal position and are positively moved back and forth by the key levers. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the a bar of a pair is depressed and the bar lifted by certain'key levers and the b bar depressed and the a bar lifted by other key levers. Also, since' each key lever sets the code bars in an individual combination different'from that efiected by any other key,

two keys can not be completely depressed at the same time, and any attempt to do so will bring the code bars to their mid positions as shown in Fig. 5 and block the key levers. I

In the present construction, the rock arms are guided in the slots of a pair of fixed comb bars 36 (see Figs. 1 and '7) which are suitably mounted in the frame of the apparatus. The code bars, while supported on the rock arms, are provided each with a narrow notch 37 to span closely one of the bars 36 so that they are in guid ing contact with that bar. Thus, they are held against appreciable endwise movement and their vertical movements are guided. byfixed comb bars 38 that are slotted to receive the ends of the code bars, with clearance in the bars 38 beyond the ends of the code bars a and b so that. accurate positioning ofthe bars 38-withreference to the guiding bar 36 mentioned is not required. The other bar 36 is spanned by each bar a and b'by a wide-clearance notch 3'7 so that accurate spacing of the comb bars 38 is not required. By providing independent means for guiding the parts operated by the key levers, the connections and fit in the guides may be sufficiently loose to avoid friction and the key action thereby rendered lighter and capable of rapid operation.

Each key lever, in addition to positioning the code bars, also operates a universal bar 39, which like the code bars, is guided in the comb bars 38, and is also supported on and operates a pair of rock arms 30. But the universal bar has no complementary bar, and the rock arms 30 are connected to a longitudinally movable bar 40, which is held in its normal left hand position by a spring 41. A lever 42 connected to the bar 40, carries an adjustable screw 43, which, upon the depression of any key, engages a pair of normally open spring contacts 44 interposed in the circuit of the operating magnet 18, these contacts being connected respectively by conductors 45 and 46 to the coil of the magnet and to a normally closed switch 4'7 (see Fig. 10).

To insure the full operation of the armature lever 15, when the keys are rapidly operated, a pivoted latch 48 is arranged to engage the lever 42 in shifted position to hold the contacts 44 engaged. When the operating magnet 18 is energized, an adjustable screw 49 on its armature 18, near the end of its movement, trips the latch and the parts controlled by the universal bar are restored to normal position. In the modification shown in Fig. 11, an additional contact 44 is closed with the contacts 44 to thereby energize a relay 50 which operates a switch 51 to hold the circuit of the operating magnet 18 closed, and also operates a switch 52 to lock in its own circuit through a pair of normally closed spring contacts 53. The latter are opened by an, insulated stud 54 on the armature lever 15 at the end of its movement to open the circuits of the magnets 18 and 50. This arrangement, like that shown in Fig. 10, insures the complete operation of the punch actuating lever 15 and facilitates the rapid operation of the keys. In this connection it is noted that since the contacts 44 when engaged are held in engaged position by the latch 48, and since the code bars a. and b retain the setting of any key until changed by the depression of another key, all parts actuated by any key remain in actuated condition independently of the key, so that the latter may be returned immediately to normal position. This arrangement aids the rapid operation of the keyboard.

, The universal bar 39, and the parts 40 and 42 operated thereby also close a pair of spring contacts 54 (see Figs. 10 and 12) interposed in the circliit of a counter operating magnet 55, these \contacts being connected respectively by conductors 56 and'57 to the magnet and to a contact 58. The latter normally engages-a spring contact 59 that is connected by aconductor 60 to the normally closed switch 47. Magnet 55 operates a feed pawl 61 which in turn advances a ratchet wheel 62 and an indicator arm 63 step-by-step against the tension of a-spring 64.

A nagnet 65 is arranged to disengage the feed pawlwfil and also a holding pawl 66, to permit the return ofthe indicator to zero with an arm 6'7 engaging a'stop pin 68. The coil of this magnet is connected by a conductor 67 to a contact 68 which is arranged to be engaged by the contact 59 when the latter is shifted in one direction by.

a bell-crank lever 69. The latter (see Fig. 1) is moved in opposite directions by a rod 70 carried by a pair of rock arms 30 mounted on the pivot rods 31 and cooperating with a pair of vertically movable bars '71 and 72.. The arrangement of this pair of bars is the same as that of the pairs of code bars, except that they are not complementary and are normally held in mid position by the spring contacts 58 and 59, between which one arm of the bell crank 69 extends, or by a jockey roller 73. The latter (see Fig. 9) is mounted on a spring-held arm 74 and extends through openings in the bars 71 and 72. The depression of either bar lifts the other bar and the roller through the medium of the rock arms 30 and the jockey roller subsequently restores both bars. Bar 71 is only operated by the special carriage-return key lever 26 (see Fig. 9) which engages a lug on the upper edge of the bar and shifts the bell-crank 69 clockwise to engage contacts 59 and 68 and disengage contacts 59 and 68, thus preventing the operation of the counter actuating magnet 55 and energizing the counter restoring magnet 65.

The space key is arranged to efiect the op eration of the counter, but since the other special function signals such as shift, unshift, line-feed, etc., and possibly an arbitrary printing type, do not operate the letter-space feed mechanism of the telegraph printer, a cut-out for the counter is controlled by the corresponding keys. For this purpose, these special function key levers 26 (see Fig. 9) engage lugs on the bar 72, to shift the bell-crank 69 counter clockwise to disengage the contacts 58 and 59, so that the magnet 55 is not energized by the engagement of the contact springs 54, which, as stated, are engaged by the universal bar when any key is depressed. The counter correctly notifies the operator'of the length of the line and when the carriage return key should be operated, and the depression of this key restores the counter to zero position.

A succession of spacing or repeat-space signals are used with page printing telegraphs for indenting paragraphs and signatures and for tabulating, and, in the present apparatus, a special repeating-space key is provided which operates the pairs of code bars a and b to punch space in the tape, and also depresses an additional bar 75, arranged like the code bars and cooperating with a pair of rock m a shift a spring held bar '76 and close a pair of normally .open contacts '77. These contacts and another pair of normally open contacts 78 (see Fig. 13),

are interposed in the circuit of a relay magnet '79.

This magnet is arranged to open the normally closed switch 47 in the circuit of the operating magnet 18, and the latter closes the contacts 78. Hence, when the repeating space key is depressed to close the contacts 44 and '7'], the operating magnet closes the contacts 78 to complete the circuit of magnet 79, and the latter then opens the circuit of magnet 18, thereby opening by the repeat relay 79, the counter is properly and repeatedly operated while the repeat space key is held down.

Obviously, many of the features of this invention could be employed in a direct keyboard transmitter, and changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the scope of the claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a keyboard mechanism, a number of pairs of horizontal, vertically movable code bars, a pair of pivoted rock arms engaging each pair of code bars to compel the vertical movement thereof in opposite directions, guiding means for maintaining the code bars in spaced relation and other guiding means for spacing the rock arms.

2. In a keyboard mechanism, a number of pairs of horizontal, vertically movable code bars, a pair of pivoted rock arms engaging each pair of code bars to compel the vertical movement thereof in opposite directions, and separate comb bars for positioning and guiding the code bars androck arms.

3. In a keyboard mechanism, a set of horizontal, vertically movable code bars arranged on edge and in pairs with the bars of such pairs adjacent each other, a pair of vertically disposed, pivoted rock arms disposed between each pair of code bars and having oppositely offset lugs for supporting the code bars and compelling the vertical movements thereof in opposite directions, fixed comb bars for positioning and guiding the rock arms, fixed comb bars engaging the ends of the code bars, and a set of longitudinally movable permutation bars connected to the pairs of-rock arms.

4. In a keyboard mechanism, a set of code bars, a set of permutation elements, keys for positioning said bars and elements in different combinations, signal or character determining mechanism selectively controlled by the permutation elements, a universal member operated by the keys for initiating the operation of said mechanism, and locking devices, rendered effective by the operation of the universal member and released by the mechanism, for maintaining the latter in operative condition independently of the keys.

5. In a keyboard mechanism, a set of code bars, a set of permutation elements, keys for positioning said bars and elements in different combinations, tape perforating mechanism controlled by the permutation members, an operating electromagnet therefor, a universal member operated by each of the keys for closing the circuit of said magnet, and locking means arranged to be released by the operation of said magnet, for holding its circuit closed independently of the universal member, substantially as described.

6. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, a set of permutation elements positioned by the keys in diil'erent combinations, recording mechanism controlled by the permutation elements, an operating motor therefor, means controlled by the keys for initiating the operation of said mechanism, and locking devices, rendered'eflec- -tive by the operation of said keys and adapted to be released by the operation of said motor, for compelling the complete operation of said mechanism independently of the ,keys.

'7. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, including character keys, a carriage-return key and special function keys, a set of permutation elements 'positloned in different combinations by the keys, signal or character determining mechanism controlled by said elements, a counter, operating and restoring electro-magnets therefor, a universal bar operated by each key for initiating the operation of said mechanism and for closing the circuit of the counter operating magnet, means operated by the carriagereturn key for closing the circuit of th counter restoring magnet, and means operated by the function keys for preventing the energizing of said operating magnet.

8. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, including character keys, a carriage-return key and other special function keys, a set of permutation elements positioned in different combinations by the keys, recording mechanism controlled by'said elements, a counter, operating magnets for said mechanism and said counter, a restoring magnet for the counter, a universal bar actuated by each key, contacts operated thereby for closing the circuits of said operating magnets, contacts operated by the carriage-return key for opening the circuit of the counter-operating magnet and closing the circuit of the counter-restoring magnet, and means controlled by the other special function keys for only opening the circuit of the counter-operating magnet.

9. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, including character keys, a carriage-return key and other special keys, a set of permutation elements positioned in different combinations by the keys, tape perforating mechanism controlled by said elements, a counter, operating magnets for said mechanism and said counter, a restoring magnet for the counter, a universal bar actuated by each key, contacts operated thereby for closing the circuits of said operating magnets, and a switching device operated in one direction by the carriage-return key for disabling the counteroperating magnet and energizing its restoring magnet, said switching device being operated in the opposite direction by other special keys for disabling the counter-operating -magnet only.

10. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, permutation members positioned thereby,

signal or character determining mechanism controlled by said members, a key-operated universal forming vertical guides for said code bars, and a guide bar positioned across said code bars, said code bars having each a notch spanning said guide bar closely whereby said code bars are limvice, a counting device, electrical circuits for efited in endwise motion.

13. In a keyboard mechanism, a number of pairs of horizontal, vertically movable code bars,

a pair of pivoted rock arms engaging each pair of code bars, a first pair of comb bars for positioning and guiding the rock arms, and a second pair of comb bars for-positioning and guiding the code bars vertically, each code bar having a notch spanning closely one only of said first pair of comb bars whereby said code bars are controlled against endwise movement.

14. In a keyboard mechanism, a number of pairs of horizontal, vertically movable code bars arranged on edge, a pair of pivoted rock arms for supporting each pair of code bars and compelling the vertical movement thereof in opposite directions, guiding devices for spacing the code bars and other guiding devices for spacing the rock arms.

15. Irr a keyboard mechanism, a set of vertically movable code bars arranged on edge, guiding devices engaging the code bars for maintaining the same in spaced relation and an additional guiding device for limiting the endwise movement of the code bars.

16. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, a set of permutation elements positioned by the keys in different combinations, tape perforating mechanism controlled by the permutation elements, a counter, separate operating magnets for said mechanism and said counter, a

universal bar actuated by-each key for closing the circuits of said operating magnets, and means operated by certain of the keys for opening the circuit of the counter operating magnet.

17. A keyboard operated tape perforator having in combination a set of punches, a common operating magnet therefor provided with a piv oted armature lever, the latter having a face radial with respect to the axis of its pivot, a set of selecting elements having offsets engaging the radial face of the armature lever, and key-actuating means for moving said elements over the face of the armature lever and into and out of alignment with said punches.

18. In a permutation keyboard mechanism, a

plurality of keys, a set of code members positionedby the keys in different combinations and arranged to retain the setting effected by each key until changed by the operation of another key, a

signal or character determining mechanism controlled by the code members, a universal member actuated by each key for initiating the operation of said mechanism, and means controlled by the mechanism for compelling its complete operation in accordance with the setting of the code members and independently of the actuated key.

19. In a keyboard perforator, a set of permutation code members, one for each element of the code; a plurality of keys each arranged to position the code members in a characteristic combination, and the latter being arranged to retain the setting effected by each key until changed by the operation of another key, a common operating member, a universal bar actuating each key for initiating the operation of said operating member, and a locking device, rendered effective by said universal bar and disabled by said operating member, for compelling the complete operation of the operating member.

20. In a keyboard perforator, a perforating defecting the operation of said devices, a series of keys for selectively controlling the perforating device, a contact operated by each of the keys to establish said circuits, holding means for controlling the duration of closure of said contact to insure the operativeness of said circuits, and automatic means effective upon the operation of said contact-to disable said holding means.

21. In a keyboard apparatus, a series of keys, perforating and counting devices, electrical circuits for effecting the operation of said devices, a plurality of contacts for preparing said circuits, selector mechanism operable by said keys to selectively control said contacts, a main contact invariablyoperated by said keys to establish said circuits, and automatic means for controlling the duration of closure of said main contact.

22. In a keyboard perforator, a perforating device, a counting device, electrical circuits for effecting the operation of said devices, a series of controlling keys, means invariably operated-by said keys for establishing said circuits to effect the operation of said devices, and means operated by certain of said keys to disable the counting device.

23. In a keyboard mechanism, a pluralityof keys, a set of permutation code elements positioned in different combinations by said keys, signal or character determining mechanism controlled by said elements, a universal member actuated by each' of said keys, means initiated in operation by said universal member for effecting a single operation of said mechanism, and means controlled by one of said keys for effecting the repeated operation of said mechanism.

24. In a keyboard mechanism, a plurality of keys, a set of permutation code elements positioned in different combinations by said keys, signal or character determining mechanism controlled by said elements, an operating motor, a universal member actuated by each key and normally operative to initiate a single operation of said motor, and means controlled by a special one of said keys for effecting the repeated operation of the motor.

25. In a keyboard perforator, a perforating device, a set of permutation members for controlling said perforating device, a counting device, operating magnets for said devices, a series of keys for positioning said permutation members in different combinations, means invariably operated by each of said keys for initiating the single operation of each of said magnets, and means controlled by a special one of said keys for effecting the repeated operation of said magnets.

ROSS A. LAKE. HERMAN W. STOELK. 

